Motherjane, the Indian rock band from Kochi, has been capturing the imagination of music lovers for a very long time. Featuring Suraj Mani (lyricist and vocalist), Baiju Dharmajan (lead guitarist), Deepu Sasidharan (rhythm guitarist), Alan Santosh (bassist) and Alloy Francis (drummer), the band has earned extensive recognition. With three studio albums and five singles, Motherjane’s music amalgamates progressive rock with Carnatic influences, creating a unique sonic experience. Their recent performance — after 12 years — at Bira 91 Taproom at DLF Avenue Saket, New Delhi, underscored their enduring appeal and relevance. t2 caught up with Suraj Mani of Motherjane.
What inspired Motherjane’s reunion?
Maybe it was just meant to be. For many years now, so many fans asked us to reunite. But it took the 15th anniversary of our album Maktub to remind us of the great music we had created together and a reunion just felt right, especially a reunion with the intention to write and record new songs for Motherjane.
Can you share any anecdotes about the band members’ journey together?
I think the lockdown was responsible in a large way. Baiju, one of our earlier members, was saddened by how society had ignored its musicians and conversely, I strongly feel that musicians as a community have so much to offer. I was having a friendly call with Deepu when I said maybe we should get together and play our music and he immediately put Baiju on the call. There was a unanimous agreement amongst the three of us that Motherjane should get back together.
Were there new elements planned for the reunion performance?
Certainly! We were excited about our performance. Two young band members had given our old songs a new lease of life in their own way. Also, a new song titled Do Good Don’t Be Nice was the first single from our new and upcoming album. Perhaps, most importantly, a new generation of ‘janiacs’ who had only heard us on recordings until then got to see us perform live. We couldn’t wait to meet all our Delhi fans; both old and new.
How did the band members feel about reconnecting with fans after such a long hiatus?
The band members felt exhilarated about reconnecting with fans after such a long hiatus. It was perhaps the best feeling for many of us in the band as we were looking forward to playing live for an audience. I could definitely say it was so for me. There was something so honest about playing live, and Motherjane gigs were typically very interactive and heartwarming.
In what ways have the individual members of Motherjane evolved in the past 12 years?
I’m going to laugh and say grey hair for sure, which in our case equates with more patience, experience and a finer appreciation of life in general. Not to mention, we now have two young band members who were in their teens just three years back.
Has the band’s musical style or direction changed since your last performance together?
Not too much really. But we will let the audience decide that. One thing remains constant, we are still a bunch of friends, all talking about different situations in life. It’s these interaction that make Motherjane sound like it does.
How has the music industry transformed in the last few years?
Production has gone through the roof... audio, visuals, lights, stage designs and so on. We can’t wait to learn how to bring those elements into our shows and use technology to tell stories that captivate people.